When Does Collecting Become Hoarding?

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Compulsive hoarding or hoarding disorder was only recently defined as a mental disorder. When watching television shows or reading newspaper articles, it is often seen that people live in what we might call a pigsty or, as my mother always said about my childhood bedroom, "it looks like a bomb's hit it." Often seen as papers, boxes, and even rubbish piled from floor to ceiling, spread across and around a room or house. I've had two people say that I was a hoarder. Well, one said it and the other implied it. The one who said it was a friend who helped to declutter a house I lived in with my ex. The friend threw away quite a lot of things, including books. Now, to me, books are not something you throw away unless they are damaged beyond repair. This friend, however, was not someone who appreciated the value of books and reading. Besides that, while I admit I am messy and I would occasionally find the odd toy or book left behind by one of the children, it was my ex who owned the majority of the stuff we didn't need or use and which turned up over and over again every time I tried to tidy. Fast forward to more recently. As a result of something going on at Mini's school, I was asked about the relationship with his father. I'd talked about how unhelpful he was and how he would make more mess than the rest of us put together while refusing to believe that he should help to tidy it up (or, better still, not make unnecessary mess in the first place). I mentioned that it was to the point where a bin was under his desk but he'd still throw rubbish on the floor. After explaining this, the person to whom I was talking asked if the problem was between him and me hoarding. I am not sure why. I can only assume that she is another person who sees that we have a lot of books but doesn't appreciate their value. Or, perhaps, it was the games cupboard which took her interest. We have a small cupboard, which has games inside but we have more games than cupboard space so a lot of games are piled on the top. So, we have a dedicated corner of the room for different things - games in one, CDs and books in another, and the TV in another with an alcove behind where I store my needlecraft box and computer games. The room is quite big so the things in the corners do not take up a lot of it. I couldn't help but wonder, though, if someone sees my collection of board games and assumes that keeping such a collection is hoarding, would they think the same of someone who is into sports and has a collection of trophies or sports equipment? Another thing about hoarding is, I think, it is a compulsion and it is about refusing (or not being able) to let go of things even if those things haven't been used for several years. I've also been told that I should get rid of the things I don't use. I could do that, I suppose, but I wouldn't get rid of much as, apart from a few ornaments and photographs, I don't own anything I don't use. So, is it a matter of opinion whether a person is a collector or a hoarder? Is it simply because it's a new thing that people want to find it anywhere they can? Or is there a particular point where a collection becomes hoarding? Does the nature of the collection make a difference? To me, as long as I can keep my collections tidy then they are not a problem. The concern I have is the same as I have for other disorders - the term gets bandied about so much where it's not accurate that those who genuinely suffer may be unable to get the help they need, especially when people start saying that it's overused! Are you a hoarder or a collector?